UFC Fight Night: Kaan Ofli vs Javier Reyes Preview & Prediction
Kaan Ofli looks to score his third successive win since starting life in the promotion at 0-2, taking on opportunistic finisher, Javier Reyes, at featherweight.
Kaan Ofli vs Javier Reyes facts
What time are Kaan Ofli and Javier Reyes expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres? National Gymnastics Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 280
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres main card
Rafael Fiziev vs Manuel Torres (Lightweight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov vs Michel Pereira (Middleweight)
Nazim Sadykhov vs Matheus Camilo (Lightweight)
Asu Almabayev vs Charles Johnson (Flyweight)
Ikram Aliskerov vs Brunno Ferreira (Middleweight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (Middleweight)
UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs Torres prelims
Farman Hasanov vs Eric Nolan (Welterweight)
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs Julius Walker (Light Heavyweight)
Nursulton Ruziboev vs Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight)
Kaan Ofli vs Javier Reyes (Featherweight)
Daniil Donchenko vs Theodor Berggren (Welterweight)
Bekzat Almakhan vs Jean Matsumoto (Bantamweight)
Tahir Abdullayev vs Jefferson Nascimento (Welterweight)
Kaan Ofli: The Aussie looks to prove the naysayers wrong after a borderline robbery in his last bout
Returning after one of the more controversial judging decisions of the year, Kaan Ofli (13-4-1) absorbed a comical amount of damage against Yizha despite eventually earning the nod. It was his second consecutive victory in the promotion after choking out Ricardo Ramos as a notable underdog, marking an unlikely turnaround for the TUF runner up. Case in point, Ofli was KO’d brutally by Mairon Santos in the finale for his debut, before dropping a decision to Muhammad Naimov in his sophomore bow. A well-rounded threat who doesn’t excel in one notable area, Ofli’s biggest setback is his 66” reach, something that allows bigger and better strikers to tee off on him at range.
Javier Reyes: "Blair" makes his sophomore bow in the promotion after an impressive TKO in his debut
Debuting with an impressive first round TKO over Douglas Silva de Andrade in February, Javier Reyes (23-5) looks to be an all-action addition to the ranks at featherweight. A bona fide finisher with nineteen finishes to his name, Reyes punched his ticket to the promotion with a brutal KO over Justice Torres on the Contender Series, planishing his opponent with a combination of punches and knees to earn a contract. A veteran of LFA, the primary knock against Reyes is the fact that he’s been defeated and stopped on the regional scene. However, considering that his last stoppage loss came at the heavy hands of recent UFC signing, Lerryan Douglas, that’s not to say that he definitively can’t cut it in the UFC featherweight division.
Kaan Ofli vs Javier Reyes prediction
Ofli may have walked away with the victory last time out, but he did NOT win that fight. Yizha dropped him all over the shop and wobbled on him countless occasions despite “Genghis” eventually earning the judges’ nod; not exactly the best omen when faced with a vicious striker like Reyes.
While he’s looked impressive in his Contender Series bow and his debut, “Blair” isn't invulnerable; the Colombian has been beaten and finished by fighters on the regional circuit prior to joining the UFC. However, he’s proven to be a lethal finisher standing or on the ground, with just four of his professional victories requiring the judges’ scorecards. He’s got considerably more experience and cage time than his latest opponent and also has the benefit of a comical 7” reach advantage, despite both men clocking in at the same height.
Historically, Reyes typically only loses when his opponents are able to score a finish, and I don’t think Ofli has the stopping power to deter him across three rounds. I see the Colombian eventually catching the Aussie out in the open or as Ofli shoots for a takedown somewhere in the first round, hammering away with follow up ground and pound to earn his second UFC stoppage.
Prediction: Javier Reyes to win by KO
